Dishwasher and controlling method thereof

ABSTRACT

Disclosed a controlling method of a dishwasher comprising a water supply step for supplying wash water, a preliminary washing step for injecting the wash water to one or more dishes, a main washing step for injecting the wash water mixed with washing liquid to the dishes, a rinsing step for injecting the wash water to the dishes, and a heating step for heating the wash water in one or more of the preliminary washing step, the main washing step and the rinsing step, wherein a heater sensing step for determining an operational state of a heater heating the wash water is performed in the heating step in a state where the circulation of wash water is stopped.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No.10-2016-0001169 filed on Jan. 5, 2016 in Korea, the entire contents ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field of the Disclosure

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a dishwasher, moreparticularly, to a dishwasher capable of intensively washing the areawhere many dishes are piled up according to locations of dishes storedtherein, and a controlling method thereof.

Background of the Disclosure

Generally, a dishwasher is the mechanism configured to wash and dry oneor more dishes held therein by injecting wash water to the dishes at ahigh pressure. Specifically, wash water is injected in a washing tubwhere dishes are held at a high pressure and the injected wash waterwashes and clean out food scraps or contaminants from surfaces ofdishes.

Such a dishwasher is capable of filtering the food scraps contained inthe wash water and reusing the used wash water. Also, the dishwasher hasdishwashing detergent or liquid dissolved in the wash water to removethe food scraps smoothly and efficiently. The dishwashers capable ofenhancing washing efficiency by raising the temperature of wash water orgenerating steam, using a heater, have been widely popular.

Such the conventional dishwasher includes a case defining an exteriorappearance; a washing tub provided in the case and defining a washingspace for dishes; a driving unit provided in a lower portion of thewashing tub and supplying, collecting, circulating and draining washingwater for washing the dishes; lower/upper/top injecting nozzlesinjecting the washing water supplied by the driving unit to dishes; andlower/upper/top storage racks extractable between the lower/upper/topinjection units within the washing tub and selectively accommodatingdishes according to kinds and sizes of dishes.

Meanwhile, a user opens a door of the dishwasher to start dishwashingand takes out one of the storage racks arranged in the washing tub.Then, the user puts one or more dishes in the taken-out storage rack andpushes the storage rack before closing the door, to put the dishwasherinto operation so as to wash the dishes.

Hence, the user puts the dishwasher into operation and the driving unitis implemented to supply wash water to the upper/lower/top injectionnozzles independently or simultaneously, to start the washing processfor the dishes put in the lower/upper/top storage racks.

Diverse courses for washing dishes are provided in the conventionaldishwasher in accordance with the related art. However, preset coursesbased on dish loading states of the storage units are not provided.

In other words, a plurality of storage units such as lower/upper/topstorage units are provided in the conventional dishwasher and dishloading may be concentrated on a specific one of the storage units.However, the upper/lower/top injecting units provided in theconventional dishwasher inject wash water to the dishes at uniformintervals or injection pressure, regardless of dish loading states, sothat dishwashing efficiency can be deteriorated disadvantageously.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to address theabove-noted and other problems.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a dishwasher capableof washing the area where many dishes are piled up according tolocations of dishes stored therein, and a controlling method thereof.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the embodiments, as embodied and broadly described herein, acontrolling method of a dishwasher comprising a washing tub comprisingan upper storage unit and a lower storage unit in which one or moredishes are loaded; a top injection unit provided over the upper storageunit; an upper injection unit provided between the upper storage unitand the lower storage unit; a lower injection unit provided under thelower storage unit; a driving unit selectively supplying wash water toeach of the injection units, the controlling method comprises a settingstep for setting the upper operation mode and the lower operation modeaccording to a user's selection; and an injecting step for injecting thewash water by differentiating the duration times and rotation number ofthe top, upper and lower injection units according to the settings ofthe setting step.

The upper operation mode may set the duration time of the lowerinjection unit to be shorter than the duration times of the top andupper injection units.

The upper operation mode may set the amount of the wash water suppliedto the lower injection unit to be smaller than the amount of the washwater supplied to the top and upper injection units.

The upper operation mode may set the duration times of the top and upperinjection units to be equal to the duration time of a normal operationmode and the duration time of the lower injection unit to be shorterthan the duration time of the normal operation mode.

The upper operation mode may set the amount of the wash water suppliedto the top and upper injection units to be equal to the amount of thewash water supply in the normal operation mode and the amount of thewash water supplied to the lower injection unit to be smaller than theamount of the wash water supply in the normal operation mode.

The upper operation mode may set the duration time of the top injectionunit to be shorter than the duration times of the upper and lowerinjection units.

The lower operation mode may set the amount of the wash water suppliedto the top injection unit to be smaller than the amount of the washwater supplied to the upper and lower injection units.

The lower operation mode may set the duration times of the upper andlower injection units to be equal to the duration mode of a normaloperation mode and the duration time of the top injection unit to beshorter than the duration time of the normal operation time.

The lower operation mode may set the amount of the wash water suppliedto the upper and lower injection units to be equal to the amount of thewash water in the normal operation mode and the amount of the wash watersupplied to the top injection unit to be smaller than the amount of thewash water supply in the normal operation mode.

The duration time and the wash water supply amount of the top, upper orlower injection unit may be variable by the pressure of the wash watersupplied by the driving unit.

The driving unit may comprise a transfer valve changing a path of thewash water to the top, upper and lower injection units, and the transfervalve may be configured to differentiate an opening/closing time of aflow path to the top, upper and lower injection units according to theselected storage unit.

The setting step may further comprise an injecting step for injectingthe wash water by setting the duration times of the top, upper and lowerinjection units, when the upper operation mode or the lower operationmode is not set.

The controlling method of the dishwasher may further comprise adisplaying step for displaying the contents set according to thesettings of the setting step.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a dishwasher comprises awashing tub comprising an upper storage unit and a lower storage unit inwhich one or more dishes are loaded; a top injection unit provided overthe upper storage unit; an upper injection unit provided between theupper storage unit and the lower storage unit; a lower injection unitprovided under the lower storage unit; a driving unit selectivelysupplying wash water to the top, upper and lower injection units; acontrol panel selecting and displaying a loaded state of the dishesloaded in the upper and lower storage units; and a controller washingthe dishes loaded in the upper or lower storage unit by differentiatingthe duration times and the rotation number of the top, upper and lowerinjection units.

The control panel may comprise a manipulation unit comprisingupper/lower selection buttons for selecting a state of the dishes loadedin the upper storage unit or the lower storage unit.

The control panel may comprise a display unit comprising upper/lowerselection lamps displaying the selected one of the upper/lower selectionbuttons.

The controller may control the duration times of the top, upper andlower injection units by controlling the supply time of the wash watersupplied by the driving unit.

The controller may control the rotation numbers of the top, upper andlower injection unit by controlling the amount of the wash watersupplied by the driving unit.

The embodiments have following advantageous effects. The dishwasher iscapable of intensively washing the area where many dishes are piled upaccording to locations of dishes stored therein, and a controllingmethod thereof. Accordingly, the dishwasher has an advantageous effectof enhanced dishwashing efficiency.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by illustration only, since various changes and modificationswithin the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings,which are given by illustration only, and thus are not limitative of thepresent invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal structure of thedishwasher in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram illustrating the dishwasher inaccordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective diagram illustrating a heater assemblyof the dishwasher in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a structure of the dishwasher inaccordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating operation mode settings of thedishwasher in accordance with the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the dishwasher inaccordance with the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the accompanying drawings, exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure according to one embodiment of the present disclosurewill be described in detail.

Use of such terminology herein is merely intended to facilitatedescription of the specification, and the terminology itself is notintended to give any special meaning or function. In the presentdisclosure, that which is well-known to one of ordinary skill in therelevant art has generally been omitted for the sake of brevity.

Regardless of numeral references, the same or equivalent components maybe provided with the same reference numbers and description thereof willnot be repeated. For the sake of brief description with reference to thedrawings, the sizes and profiles of the elements illustrated in theaccompanying drawings may be exaggerated or reduced and it should beunderstood that embodiments of a device or a controlling methodpresented herein are not limited by the accompanying drawings.

First of all, a dishwasher in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent disclosure will be described in detail, referring to theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal structure of thedishwasher in accordance with the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is aperspective diagram illustrating a dishwasher in accordance with thepresent disclosure. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective diagramillustrating a heater assembly of the dishwasher in accordance with thepresent disclosure. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a structure of thedishwasher in accordance with the present disclosure.

The present disclosure relates to a driving unit 160 capable ofperforming the function for moving wash water and the function forheating the wash water at the same time, and the apparatus including thedriving unit 160. FIG. 1 illustrates one example of the dishwasherincluding the driving unit 160 in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

As shown in FIG. 1, the dishwasher 100 may include a cabinet 110; awashing tub 120 provided in the cabinet and providing a washing space;an injection units 124, 126, and 126 injecting wash water to one or morewashing objects; and a driving unit 160 for supplying wash water to theinjection units 124, 125 and 126.

Storage units 121, 122 and 123 for storing washing objects therein maybe provided in the washing tub 120. The storage units 121, 122 and 123may include a top storage unit 123 provided adjacent to an inner topsurface of the washing tub 120; an upper storage unit 121 provided in anupper portion of the washing tub 120; and a lower storage unit 122provided in a lower portion of the washing tub 120.

The washing tub 120 is open by a door 112 coupled to one surface of thecabinet 110. After opening the washing tub 120, using the door 112, auser is able to take out the storage units 121, 122 and 123.

Meanwhile, an upper portion of an external surface of the door 112 maybe provided a manipulation unit 114 for controlling the operation of thedishwasher; a display unit 115 displaying operational states of thedishwasher 100; and a control panel 113 connected with the display unit115 and including a controller 190 controlling each of the components(see FIG. 4).

In this instance, the manipulation unit 114 may include a plurality ofbuttons (not shown) for allowing the user to select a plurality ofwashing courses. Moreover, the manipulation unit 114 may further includean upper/lower selection button 114 a for selecting to intensively washthe upper storage unit 121 or the lower storage unit 122 according tothe dishes loaded in the upper or lower storage units 121 or 122.

The display unit 115 may include a plurality of lamps (not shown)showing operational states of the dishwasher. Moreover, the display unit115 may include an upper/lower lamp 115 a showing that the upper orlower storage unit 112 or 121 is intensively washed according to theuser's selection (see FIG. 4).

A drying module 116 is provided in an inner surface of the door 112 toexhaust the humid air of the dishes dried in the washing tub 120 outsidethe dishwasher 100, in communication with the washing tub 120. Thedrying module 116 includes a drying path 174 provided in the innersurface of the door 122 and connecting the washing tub 120 with anexternal space of the dishwasher; and a drying fan 118 provided on thedrying path 117 and blowing the air along the drying path 117 toward theexternal space of the dishwasher 100.

When the storage units 121, 122 and 123 include the top storage unit123, the upper storage unit 121 and the lower storage unit 122, theinjection units 124, 125, 126 may include a top injection unit 126provided above the top storage unit 123 and injecting wash water to thetop storage unit 123; an upper injection unit 124 provided between thetop and upper storage units 123 and 121 and injecting wash water to thetop and upper storage units 123 and 121; and a lower injection unit 125provided under the lower storage unit 122 and injecting wash water tothe lower storage unit 122.

In this instance, the wash water injected to washing objects from theinjections units 124, 125 and 126 (the wash water remaining in thewashing tub 120) may be collected in the sump 130.

The sump 130 provided under the washing tub 120 serves as the means forstoring wash water. The sump 130 is partitioned off from the washing tub120 by a sump cover 135. The sump cover 135 has a water-collecting hole136 allowing an internal space of the washing tub 120 to communicatewith an internal space of the sump 13.

Meanwhile, the sump 130 is connected to a water supply source (notshown) via a water supply path 131. The water supply path 131 may beclosable by a water supply valve 132 controlled by a controller (notshown). The wash water held in the sump 130 may be drained outside thedishwasher via a drainage path 133 and a drainage pump 134.

The wash water stored in the sump 130 is supplied to the injection units124, 125 and 126 via the water supply paths 151, 152 and 153. The watersupply paths 151, 152 and 153 includes a connection path 155 connectedwith the driving unit 160; a top water supply path 153 connecting thetop injection unit 126 with the connection path 155; an upper watersupply path 151 connecting the upper injection unit 124 with theconnection path 155; and a lower water supply path 152 connecting thelower injection unit 125 with the connection path 155.

The upper injection unit 124 is rotatably coupled to the upper watersupply path 151 and the lower injection unit 125 is rotatably coupled tothe lower water supply path 152.

The top water supply path 153, the upper water supply path 151 and thelower water supply path 152 are branched from the connection path 155. Aflow transfer valve 154 may be provided at the branched points from theconnection path to open and close and transfer the flow.

Meanwhile, the controller 190 may control the flux and supply time ofthe wash water supplied to the top supply path 153, the upper supplypath 151 and the lower supply path 152 by controlling a transfer valve154 provided in the connection path 155 according to the user'sselection input to the upper/lower button 114 a.

The driving unit 160 may include a body 160 a fixed in the cabinet 110;a partition wall 160 b partitioning off an internal space of the body160 a into a pumping chamber (PC) and a heating chamber (HC); acommunicating hole 164 provided in the partition wall 160 b and allowingthe pumping chamber (PC) to communicate with the heating chamber (HC);an inlet connecting the sump 130 with the heating chamber (HC); anoutlet 169 connecting the pumping chamber (PC) with the connection path155; an impeller 168 provided in the pumping chamber (PC); and a heaterassembly 180 provided in a bottom surface of the heating chamber (HC).

As shown in FIG. 2, the body 160 a is formed in a cylindrical shape withan open top and an open bottom. A cover 162 is provided in the open top161 provided in a top of the body 160 a (in other words, a top surfaceof the pumping chamber (PC)). The heater assembly 180 is detachablycoupled to the open bottom 163 (in other words, a bottom surface of theheating chamber (HC)).

The heater assembly 180 is provided in the lowermost part of the drivingunit 160 and defines the bottom surface of the heating chamber (HC), sothat the heating chamber (HC) can perform the wash water heatingfunction and the wash water circulation function simultaneously. Inaddition, the heater assembly 180 is detachable out of the driving unit160 from the body 160 a.

The impeller 168 serves as the means for moving the wash water suppliedto the pumping chamber (PC) from the heating chamber (HC) toward theoutlet 169 and is rotatable by a motor provided in an outer surface ofthe body 160 a.

In this instance, the motor 170 may be fixed to the cover 162 and ashaft 171 of the motor is directly connected to the impeller 168 throughthe cover 162.

As shown in FIG. 3, the heater assembly 180 may include a housing 181defining a bottom surface of the heating chamber (HC); and a heater 182provided in the outer surface of the heating chamber (HC) and heatingthe housing 181. Accordingly, the heater 182, the housing 181, thepumping chamber (PC) and the heating chamber (HC) may be sequentiallydisposed according along the height of the body 160 a, only to formmutual vertical arrangement.

Meanwhile, to transfer the thermal energy supplied by the heater 182 tothe wash water held in the heating chamber (HC), it is preferred thatthe housing 181 is made of a conductor such as metal.

The housing 181 may include an accommodating groove 183 for locating theheater 182 outside the heating chamber (HC); and a securing portion 184securing the housing 191 to the body 160 a. The accommodating groove 183may be provided in a predetermined shape capable of maximizing thesurface area of the housing 181 heat-exchanging with the wash water.FIG. 3 illustrates one example of the accommodating groove 183 projectedtoward the internal space of the heating chamber (HC).

A heater cover 185 may be further provided and fixed to the housing 181to prevent the heater 182 inserted in the accommodating groove 183 frombecoming exposed outside the accommodating groove 183. The heater cover185 serves the means for shutting off the wash water or foreignsubstances permeating into the heater 182 as well as preventing internalcomponents of the dishwasher near the driving unit 160 from directlycontacting with the heater 182.

The heater 182 may include a heater body 160 a generating the thermalenergy once provided with electric currents; and first and secondterminals supplying electric currents to the heater body 160 a. Thefirst terminal and the second terminal may be exposed outside theaccommodating groove 183 and the heater body 160 a may not be exposedoutside the accommodating groove 183 by the heater cover 185.

The housing 181 defines the bottom surface of the heating chamber (HC)in the heater assembly 180 having the structure mentioned above.Accordingly, the heater assembly 180 may supply warm water (in otherwords, heated wash water) to the injection unit 12, 125 and 126, whenthe impeller 168 is rotated during the operation of the heater 182 (inother words, while the heater 182 is being operated).

The heating chamber (HC) is located in the lowermost portion of the pathfor circulating and moving wash water and the housing 181 heated by theheater 182 defines the bottom surface of the heating chamber (HC), sothat wash water can always collects in the heating chamber (HC).

Accordingly, the overheat of the heater 182 may be prevented withoutadjusting a water level additionally and the amount of the wash waterwhich has to be supplied for steam or warm water may be minimized.

The heater assembly 180 is provided in the bottom surface of the heatingchamber (HC) and the driving unit 160 mentioned above may perform afunction as a steam generator, when only the heater 182 is operatedafter the predetermined amount of wash water is supplied to the heatingchamber (HC).

To perform the function for generating steam, the driving unit 160 hasto include a steam outlet hole 166 for exhausting the steam generated inthe heating chamber (HC) outside.

As shown in FIG. 1, the steam outlet hole 166 may be in communicationwith the washing tub 120 via a steam supply unit 140. The steam supplyunit 140 may include a steam nozzle 141 fixed to the washing tub 120;and a steam supply pipe 142 connecting the steam nozzle 141 and thesteam outlet hole 166 with each other. The steam outlet hole 166 may belower than the partition wall 160 b and higher than the inlet 165.

Meanwhile, when the steam outlet hole 166 is provided in the heatingchamber (HC), a steam valve 143 has to be further provided in at leastone of the steam outlet hole 166 and the steam supply pipe 143 toprevent external air from coming into the heating chamber (HC).

The driving unit 160 having the structure mentioned above may be drivento supply the steam inside the heating chamber (HC) to the washing tub120 via the steam supply pipe 142. As an alternative example, the steammay be supplied to the washing tub 120 via the injection unit 124, 125and 126 and the collecting hole 136.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating operation mode settings of thedishwasher in accordance with the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 5, the dishwasher in accordance with the presentdisclosure may perform the intensive washing for a specific one of theupper or lower storage unit 121 or 122, where many dishes are stored orloaded, according to the amount of the loaded dishes.

Meanwhile, the user selects the upper or lower storage unit 121 or 122before starting the dishwashing process of the dishwasher 100, using theupper/lower selection button 114 a of the manipulation unit 114. Thecontroller 190 determines the storage unit selected by the user andintensively washes the dishes loaded in the determined storage unit.

In this instance, the controller 190 has to determine the storage unitselected by the user. First of all, the controller 190 determineswhether the storage unit selected by the user's manipulation of theupper/lower selection button 114 a is the upper storage unit 121 (S110).When it is determined that the storage unit selected by the user is theupper storage unit 121, the controller 190 sets an upper operation modeas an operation mode of the dishwasher (S120).

The controller 190 determines whether the storage unit selected by theuser's manipulation of the upper/lower selection button 114 a is thelower storage unit 122 (S130). When it is determined that the storageunit selected by the user is the lower storage unit 122, the controller190 sets a lower operation mode as an operation mode of the dishwasher(S140).

In this instance, the display unit 115 may display the storage unitselected by the user via the upper/lower display lamp 115 a providedtherein according to the determination of the user's selection.

Meanwhile, the controller 190 sets a normal operation mode as thecurrent operation mode if the user does not select one of the upper andlower storage units in the storage unit selecting step (S150).

The normal operation mode is implemented to uniformly wash the dishesloaded in the upper and lower storage units 121 and 122. The normaloperation mode is implemented to operate the top injection unit 126provided over the upper storage unit 121, the upper injection unit 124provided between the upper and lower storage units 121 and 122, and thelower injection unit 125 provided under the lower storage unit 122alternatively at present intervals, so as to wash the dishes loaded inthe upper and lower storage units 121 and 122 uniformly.

The top injection unit 126, the upper injection unit 124 and the lowerinjection unit 125 may supply a preset amount of wash water to a topsupply path 153, an upper supply path 151 and a lower supply path 152for a preset time period, respectively.

For example, in the normal operation mode, the top injection unit 126,the upper injection unit 124 and the lower injection unit 125 aresequentially operated approximately at two-minute intervals to wash thedishes. The operation may be repeated several times to dozens of timesaccording to the preset duration time.

In this instance, the duration time of the top injection unit 126, theupper injection unit 124 and the lower injection unit 125 is notlimited. The duration time and the amount of the supplied wash water tothe top, upper and lower injection units 126, 124 and 125 may bemaintained relatively uniformly.

Meanwhile, the upper operation mode is configured to intensively washthe dishes loaded in the upper storage unit 121. The duration time ofthe top injection unit 126 provided over the upper storage unit 121, theduration time of the upper injection unit 124 provided between the upperand lower storage units 121 and 122, and the duration time of the lowerinjection unit provided under the lower storage unit 122 may be setdifferent from each other, to alternatively operate the top injectionunit 126, the upper injection unit 125 and the lower injection unit 125and intensively wash the dishes loaded in the upper storage unit 121.

In case the current operation mode is set as the upper operation mode,the duration times and the wash water supply amounts of the top andupper injection units 124 are maintained to be equal to the durationtime and the amount of the wash water supply amount which are set forthe normal operation mode. The duration time and the wash water supplyamount of the lower injection unit 125 is maintained to be smaller thanthe duration time and the wash water supply amount of the top or upperinjection unit 126 or 124.

When the washing for the dishes loaded in the upper storage unit 121 isperformed in the upper operation mode, the controller 190 controls thecurrents applied to the motor 170 provided in the driving unit 160 todifferentiate the rotation numbers and wash water injection pressure ofthe top, upper and lower injection units 126 and 124 from each other.

The lower operation mode is configured to intensively wash the dishesloaded in the lower storage unit 122. The duration time of the topinjection unit 126 provided over the upper storage unit 121, theduration time of the upper injection unit 124 provided between the upperand lower storage units 121 and 122, and the duration time of the lowerinjection unit provided under the lower storage unit 122 may be setdifferent from each other, to alternatively operate the top injectionunit 126, the upper injection unit 125 and the lower injection unit 125and intensively wash the dishes loaded in the lower storage unit 122.

Hereinafter, referring to the accompanying drawings, the operation ofthe dishwasher in accordance with the selection of the operation modesmentioned above will be described in detail.

As shown in the drawing, the user puts one or more dishes in the storageunits 121, 122 and 123 of the dishwasher and then starts a washingprocess by selecting a dish-washing button (not shown).

The user manipulates the upper/lower selection button 114 a provided inthe manipulation unit 114 so as to intensively wash the dishes loaded ina specific storage unit, when dishes are intensively loaded in aspecific one of the storage units 121, 122 and 123 of the dishwasher.

For example, when dishes are intensively loaded in the upper storageunit 121 (or the lower storage unit 122), the user manipulates theupper/lower selection button 114 a so as to control the upper storageunit 121 (or the lower storage unit) to be intensively washed.

Meanwhile, once the dishwasher 100 is put into operation, a water supplystep (S110) starts to start water supply to the driving unit 160 of thewashing tub 120. Once the water supply step (S110) is complete, apreliminary washing step (S120) starts to soak food scraps stained onthe dishes.

Once the preliminary washing step (S120) is complete, a main washingstep (S130) starts to inject the wash water mixed with detergent so asto remove the food scraps or contaminants from the dishes.

Hence, the main washing step (S130) is complete and then a rinsing step(S140) starts. Once the rinsing step (S140) is complete, a drying step(S150) for drying the washed dishes starts and then the dishwashingprocess finishes.

Before the main washing step (S130) starts after the preliminary washingstep (S120), a drainage step starts to collect and drain the wash waterhaving injected during the preliminary washing step.

The wash water is pumped by the driving unit 160 and injected into thewashing tub 120 via the upper injection unit 124 and the lower injectionunit 125. Such a wash water injecting process is repeatedly performedfor a preset time period.

As an alternative example, a wash water injecting frequency is presetand the main washing step (S130) is performed until the preset injectingfrequency. After the main washing step (S130), the rinsing step (S140)starts and the wash water supplied in the main washing step (S130)before the rinsing step (S140). Meanwhile, the rinsing step (S140)finishes and a drying step (S150) for removing moisture from the dishesthen starts. The drying step (S150) is implemented to supply hot air tothe washing tub 120 and evaporate the moisture remaining on the dishes.

In this instance, the air changed into a state of a high temperature andhumidity is exhausted outside the dishwasher 100 by a drying module (notshown).

Meanwhile, in the preliminary washing step (S220), the main washing(S230) and the rinsing step (S240), the top injection unit 126, theupper injection unit 124 and the top injection unit 126 are rotated andprovided with wash water at preset intervals according to the operationof the transfer valve 154 only to wash the dishes.

When the upper/lower selection button 114 a is selected by the user'smanipulation of the manipulation unit 114, the duration times of thetop, upper and lower injection units 126, 124 and 125 may be setdifferent from each other in the preliminary washing step (S220), themain washing step (S230) and the rinsing step (S240) for the selectedupper or lower storage unit 121 or 122.

For example, when the upper operation mode is selected to intensivelywash the dishes loaded in the upper storage unit 121, the top and upperinjection units 126 and 124 are operated at two-minute intervals and thelower injection unit 125 is operated at one-minute intervals.

When the lower operation mode is selected to intensively wash the dishesloaded in the lower storage unit 122, the upper and lower injectionunits 124 and 125 are operated at two-minute intervals and the topinjection unit 126 is operated at one-minute intervals. In such thelower operation mode, the duration time of the lower injection unit 125is reduced so that the overall washing time can be reduced.

In the upper operation mode and the lower operation mode, the durationtimes of the top, upper and lower injection units 126, 124 and 125 maybe variable into the illustrated time.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure mentioned above,when dishes are intensively loaded in one of the upper and lower storageunits, the one in which the dishes are intensively loaded may beintensively washed. The overall dishwashing time may be reduced byreducing the duration times of the top, upper and lower injection units126, 124 and 125.

The foregoing embodiments are merely exemplary and are not to beconsidered as limiting the present disclosure. The present teachings canbe readily applied to other types of methods and apparatuses. Thisdescription is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scopeof the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will beapparent to those skilled in the art. The features, structures, methods,and other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described hereinmay be combined in various ways to obtain additional and/or alternativeexemplary embodiments. As the present features may be embodied inseveral forms without departing from the characteristics thereof, itshould also be understood that the above-described embodiments are notlimited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unlessotherwise specified, but rather should be considered broadly within itsscope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes andmodifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, orequivalents of such metes and bounds, are therefore intended to beembraced by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A controlling method of a dishwasher, thedishwasher comprising a washing tub with an upper storage unit and alower storage unit; a top injection unit provided over the upper storageunit; an upper injection unit provided between the upper storage unitand the lower storage unit; a lower injection unit provided under thelower storage unit; and a driving unit selectively supplying wash waterto each of the injection units, the controlling method comprising: asetting step wherein the upper operation mode and the lower operationmode are set based on user input; and a first injecting step wherein thewash water is injected by differentiating the duration times androtation number of the top, upper, and lower injection units accordingto the settings of the setting step.
 2. The controlling method of claim1, wherein the upper operation mode sets the duration time of the lowerinjection unit to be shorter than the duration times of the top andupper injection units.
 3. The controlling method of claim 1, wherein theupper operation mode sets the amount of the wash water supplied to thelower injection unit to be smaller than the amount of the wash watersupplied to the top and upper injection units.
 4. The controlling methodof claim 1, wherein the upper operation mode sets the duration times ofthe top and upper injection units to be equal to the duration time of anormal operation mode and the duration time of the lower injection unitto be shorter than the duration time of the normal operation mode. 5.The controlling method of claim 1, wherein the upper operation mode setsthe amount of the wash water supplied to the top and upper injectionunits to be equal to the amount of the wash water supply in the normaloperation mode and the amount of the wash water supplied to the lowerinjection unit to be smaller than the amount of the wash water supply inthe normal operation mode.
 6. The controlling method of claim 1, whereinthe lower operation mode sets the duration time of the top injectionunit to be shorter than the duration times of the upper and lowerinjection units.
 7. The controlling method of claim 1, wherein the loweroperation mode sets the amount of the wash water supplied to the topinjection unit to be smaller than the amount of the wash water suppliedto the upper and lower injection units.
 8. The controlling method ofclaim 1, wherein the lower operation mode sets the duration times of theupper and lower injection units to be equal to the duration mode of anormal operation mode and the duration time of the top injection unit tobe shorter than the duration time of the normal operation time.
 9. Thecontrolling method of claim 1, wherein the lower operation mode sets theamount of the wash water supplied to the upper and lower injection unitsto be equal to the amount of the wash water in the normal operation modeand the amount of the wash water supplied to the top injection unit tobe smaller than the amount of the wash water supply in the normaloperation mode.
 10. The controlling method of claim 1, wherein theduration time and the wash water supply amount of the top, upper, orlower injection unit are variable by the pressure of the wash watersupplied by the driving unit.
 11. The controlling method of claim 1,wherein the driving unit comprises: a transfer valve changing a path ofthe wash water to the top, upper, and lower injection units, wherein thetransfer valve differentiates an opening/closing time of a flow path tothe top, upper, and lower injection units according to the selectedstorage unit.
 12. The controlling method of claim 1, further comprising:a second injecting step wherein the wash water is injected by settingthe duration times of the top, upper, and lower injection units, whenthe upper operation mode or the lower operation mode is not set.
 13. Thecontrolling method of claim 1, further comprising: a displaying step fordisplaying the contents set according to the settings of the settingstep.
 14. A dishwasher, comprising: a washing tub with an upper storageunit and a lower storage unit for loading one or more dishes therein; atop injection unit provided over the upper storage unit; an upperinjection unit provided between the upper storage unit and the lowerstorage unit; a lower injection unit provided under the lower storageunit; a driving unit selectively supplying wash water to the top, upperand lower injection units; a control panel for selecting and displayinga loaded state of the upper and lower storage units; and a controller tocontrol the washing of the dishes loaded in the upper or lower storageunit by differentiating the duration times and the rotation number ofthe top, upper, and lower injection units.
 15. The dishwasher of claim14, wherein the control panel comprises a manipulation unit havingupper/lower selection buttons for selecting a state of the dishes loadedin the upper storage unit or the lower storage unit.
 16. The dishwasherof claim 14, wherein the control panel comprises a display unitcomprising upper/lower selection lamps displaying the selected one ofthe upper/lower selection buttons.
 17. The dishwasher of claim 14,wherein the controller controls the duration times of the top, upper,and lower injection units by controlling the supply time of the washwater supplied by the driving unit.
 18. The dishwasher of claim 14,wherein the controller controls the rotation numbers of the top, upper,and lower injection unit by controlling the amount of the wash watersupplied by the driving unit.
 19. The dishwasher of claim 14, whereinthe driving unit further comprises: a heating chamber defining apredetermined space for heating wash water supplied from the sump; apumping chamber provided above the heating chamber and defining apredetermined space for pumping the wash water supplied to the heatingchamber to the injection unit; and a heater assembly connected to abottom surface of the heating chamber and forming both the bottom of theheating chamber and the lowermost surface of the driving unit, theheater assembly comprising a heater for heating the wash water stored inthe heating chamber.